The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 6) released the latest grading of water quality of 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.

Twenty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 14 as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach

Lo So Shing Beach

Chung Hom Kok Beach

Middle Bay Beach

Clear Water Bay First Beach

Repulse Bay Beach

Clear Water Bay Second Beach

Shek O Beach

Deep Water Bay Beach

Silverstrand Beach

Discovery Bay

South Bay Beach

Golden Beach

St Stephen's Beach

Hap Mun Bay Beach

Stanley Main Beach

Hoi Mei Wan Beach

Tong Fuk Beach

Hung Shing Yeh Beach

Trio Beach

Kiu Tsui Beach

Turtle Cove Beach

Kwun Yam Beach

Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach

Castle Peak Beach

Approach Beach

Kadoorie Beach

Big Wave Bay Beach

Lido Beach

Butterfly Beach

Lower Cheung Sha Beach

Cafeteria New Beach

Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach

Cafeteria Old Beach

Pui O Beach

Casam Beach

Ting Kau Beach

Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Approach Beach and Castle Peak Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Lower Cheung Sha Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.

Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

The EPD spokesman also warned that beaches were likely to be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.

A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.